Many books have been written on the psychology of the horse, by just as many people all touting their academic authority – each has a particular specialty in one area or another of the physical, chemical, sensory or other response mechanism.
To provide some background to my thoughts, I did obtain a degree in Experimental Psychology from Trent University in Peterborough. As a part of my studies I took many courses in various aspects of the subject. I studied Psychometrics (testing), Experimental Design, Behavioural Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Personality Theory and other topics.
I do not profess to be an expert in any particular area but may be so bold as to suggest that I am better informed than the average horseman in this aspect of behaviour and behavioural modification.
Having taught martial arts for more than four decades I also have an interest in “Motivation” – some of my students went to become Provincial, National and International Champions. The motivation of each competitor was different and often situational, or circumstantially, rooted.
Psychology is generally rooted in observation, one should take careful notes, maintain an open mind, avoid personal or hypothetical biases and seek to understand (in the words of Tom Dorrance) “what happened before what happened happened“.
People are the part of the horse/human interaction that is less studied – trainers are there to get something done for you the client, regardless of your skill, understanding, ability or comprehension. The same is too often true of riding instructors whose background is often fuelled more by ego than knowledge.
Horses are generally agreeable creatures, they seek peace and harmony and avoid conflict. They always prefer flight over fight and just want to be left alone – regardless of breed.
If your horse is fighting with you, be assured you are the problem, you have caused the horse to feel trapped. I once was approached by a woman who insisted her horse had a soar ear, and she asked if I might look at it.
I first asked her a few questions, “is it swollen, bleeding, or obviously injured?” she responded she didn’t know “because he wouldn’t let her touch it“. I asked her to show me his behaviour (observation) – the horse stood quietly in the cross ties as the woman reached for his ear, just as she was about to touch it he pulled away. She repeated the action with the same result – except she was getting angry.
I said to her “you have taught him to do that” she protested “that’s ridiculous, why and how would I do that?” I explained that “as he started to move his head away you pulled your hand back – he had learned that by pulling his head away you would leave him alone“.
To test the hypothesis I asked if it would be okay if I tried – she agreed. I reached up to his head, but this time as he moved his head away my hand followed, touching him high on the neck and rubbing him – he found that felt pretty good. I worked my hand up to cup his ear and he predictable started to move away again.
This time I left my hand there, wherever he moved his head, until he stopped and let me rub the ear. After repeating the process a few times he was very accepting of the touch – clearly showing he was not in pain, and not at all concerned by being touched. This is not the same thing as “flooding” – his behaviour could have just as easily been returned to the former baseline.
My horses will run to me when I arrive at their pasture – responding to a whistle or a call. However, their reason for doing so has nothing to do with their love for me, or getting a treat – I do not give them treats – it is more complex than that. My arrival signals an opportunity to get out of the pasture and do something more interesting.
The proof is the behaviour both before and after they come out. As long as they get what they want – going for a ride getting physical and mental stimulation they will come running. But if I repeatedly show up without providing that reward they will become less and less enthusiastic.
The longer I catch them without the mental and physical rewards they desire, the less likely they are to come running. And, if I were to treat them badly after catching them they might be even less likely to come running. Another point on catching them is if I quit waiting for them and go get them, they quickly learn this is the new expectation.
But that leads to another behavioural discussion – what they act like after being readied for a ride; one of mine has a lot of energy – both love to work – and if she is just in the pasture she lacks both mental and physical stimulation, and is frustrated.
After getting her saddled she may act out, not while being led, but after being mounted – I have observed that she can be explosive and extremely excited if she has not been ridden regularly. If she is ridden three or more times per week she comes out ready to mount and ride.
But if she hasn’t been ridden for a week or two she has pent up energy, anxiety, she is eager to get going and wants to do everything in her portfolio all at once. Some folks would see this as undesirable behaviour, labelling it as “cold backed” or even “dangerous“.
Observationally, I don’t share that view, albeit this is no beginner’s horse, she does nothing that I couldn’t ride, I just prefer not to – since I could slide out of the saddle and I don’t bounce as well as when I was younger.
What I could do is punish her for her enthusiasm but that doesn’t really help either one of us – and the feeling remains inside her her in any event. What I do instead is work her from the ground until the tension leaves and the thinking part of her brain takes over the reactive part.
At times that may take a just few minutes and other times longer – but let’s return to my earlier comment – that she “likes to work” she yearns for work and loves consistency – which is a common theme with all horses, regardless of breed, they all love routine.
As a footnote, she is still relatively young and my observational experience suggests this type of behaviour improves with maturity.